According to the Consensus Document for Allergic Conjunctivitis (DECA) classification for allergic conjunctivitis (AC), there is a direct link between AC, rhinitis and asthma concerning the severity and duration of the disease. M C Sánchez-Hernández et al. used the DECA criteria in patients with AC to assess the link between the severity and duration of AC and asthma and/or rhinitis in their retrospective study.

Overall, 2914 patients (aged between 1 to 90 years) with AC who took part in the Alergológica (National Survey on Allergic Diseases) study in the year 2015 were included. Demographics, DECA criteria based classification, etiology, and comorbidities were assessed by age groups (≤14 years and >14 years). Out of the total patients, 965 patients (33.1%) were diagnosed with AC (77.5% aged more than 14 years). Patients with AC were categorised as severe, moderate, or mild, as shown in following Table 1:

It was intermittent in 51.6% or persistent in 48.4% of the patients. AC was observed in 4% of patients. AC was primarily linked with rhinitis followed by asthma, food allergy and atopic dermatitis, Table 2:

In allergic respiratory disease, rhinitis led AC and asthma progressed afterwards. A significant link was recognised between the duration and severity of AC and rhinitis and asthma.